My Playboy

Forty Two

Chapter 42

Heart vs. Mind

Loise

The next morning, maaga akong pumunta sa opisina. Habang nasa daan, napaisip ako. Eh kung magtayo na lang ako ng sariling shop? Ayoko kasi dito sa company nagsstay. Gusto ko ako mismo ang nag-hahandle.

Pasakay ako sa lift nang biglang pumasok si Brix. I immediately tapped him.

“Uy!” he said, panting.

Natawa ako sa itsura niya, “What happened to you? Nag-marathon ka?” I asked.

“I wished nag-marathon na lang ako, pero hindi eh..” he said at biglang umayos ng tayo matapos huminga ng malalim. “May babae sa labas ng Enterprise. Man, she’s a monster!” he exclaimed. Narinig ko ang mahinang hagikhikan ng dalawang empleyado dun, isang babae at isang.. bakla.

Kahit ako, di ko mapigilan ang matawa. His face is so priceless! “So did you get her name? or number?” natatawang tanong ko.

Pinanlakihan niya ko ng mata, “Are you f-cking serious?! She almost killed me! That woman!” nanggagalaiti niyang sagot. At ulit, tinawanan ko lang siya. “Hoy ikaw, tawa ka ng tawa diyan. Okay ka na ba?” he asked me. Lumabas na ng 11th floor yung dalawang empleyado kaya kami na lang ang natira.

“Yep. Actually, Martin and I, we’re working on us for the second time around.” I smilingly told him. Nakita ko naman ang pagdaan ng lungkot sa mata niya? I don’t know.

“Really? Well, that’s good to hear. Dito na ako, saan ka?” he asked pero di ko na siya nasagot kasi lumabas na siya. Ano’ng problema n’un?

Dumiretso ako sa top floor para konsultahin si kuya sa iniisip ko.

I knocked once, “Kuya?” I opened the door at nagulat ako sa nadatnan ko.

Kuya Von kissing Mariel.

 

Pero mas nagulat ako nang may nahulog sa likod ko. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita doon si Ate Cerine at Heath. Napatingin ako kila kuya at ganun din ang gulat sa mukha nila.

At this point, hindi ko alam ang gagawin, o ang tumatakbo sa isip nilang apat. But I guess, mas kailangan ako ni Ate Cerine. Kitang kita sa kanyang mata yung sakit at paghihirap. Heath’s jaw clenched as well as his fist.

“Gago ka!” and the next thing I knew, kuya Von was lying on the floor, his lips bleeding.

Agad akong pumagitna kila kuya at Heath. Hindi agad nakapagreact si Mariel at Ate Cerine.

Susugod pa ulit sana si Heath, “Stop it, Heath! Just fcking stop!” I screamed. Oo, alam kong mali si kuya at hindi ko siya dapat kampihan. But.. he’s my twin. I won’t let anyone hurt him.

Agad kong dinaluhan si kuya at pinatayo. “I’m bringing you somewhere, let’s get out of here” I whispered to him. Tumango lang siya bilang sagot. Tumingin muna ako kila Ate Cerine at Mariel bago malungkot na ngumiti.

Both of them are hurting, that’s for sure. But one thing I’m curious about.. Bakit ganun na lang kung magalit si Heath? I know Ate Cerine is his cousin and all, pero bakit?

 

**

Von

Nakarating kami dito sa Sanctuary coffee shop, malapit sa subdivision namin. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin matanggal sa isip ko yung kagaguhang ginawa ko.

“What’s your problem, kuya?! I-I.. Y-you kissed Mariel! What the fck was that?! You’re my brother, but she’s my bestfriend!” she hollered.

Bumuntong hininga ako at sinimulang ikwento lahat..

Nakarinig ako ng isang katok.

“Pasok.” Sabi ko nalang at di na inabalang tignan kung sino yung pumasok. Usually naman, secretary ko lang ‘yan o kaya si Cerine.

“Von..” Agad akong napalingon nung marinig ko ‘yung boses ni.. Mariel. Bakit siya nandito? “May gusto sana akong sabihin..” dugtong nya na sumagot sa tanong ko.

Tumayo ako at lumapit ng ilang hakbang sa kanya. “Ano yun?” I swear, I heard my heart beats loudly. Fck this feeling.

“I’m sorry.. Really. I’m sorry for leaving, I’m sorry for making you wait, I’m sor—“

“Shhh.. Don’t say sorry.” I immediately hugged her when I saw her crying. Pucha, naguguilty man akong gawin ‘to, pero parang may sariling utak ang katawan ko. Tangina, di ko siya mabitawan. “I should be the one saying sorry. I’m not patient enough to wait for you. I- got tired of waiting. Honestly, back then, I feel like I was waiting for nothing.. T-then, I-“

She cut me off, “Stop. Just, please stop.” She cried and I tightened my hug. “Von, this is wrong.. I’m here n-not just to say s-sorry, but, I’m also here..” she paused. “T-to give t-this b-back to y-you..” she gently pushed me away, at doon tumambad sa akin ang bracelet na binigay ko sa kanya noon. “You broke your promise, Von. You promised me, you’ll wait for me. But this.. Pain? Heartache? Yun lang ang makukuha ko? Oo, masakit maiwan. But, mas masakit kung pipilitin mong bumalik kahit wala ka naman nang babalikan.” Her words hit me, hard.

Napuno ng what ifs ang utak ko. What if I waited for her? Will it be worth it? What if I didn’t court Cerine? What if I kept my promise to her? What if.. Fucking what ifs.

“Please.. take this. Binabalik ko na. I w-wanted to s-start anew. I wa-want to move on. I want to forget about.. you, Von.” Parang tinutusok ng isang milyong beses yung puso ko. In one swift move, I felt her lips touched mine.

My mind says no, but my heart.. oh, heavens! This f-cking, stupid heart is in control of everything!

“..I know, I’m a jerk for doing that—“

“Kuya..” she cut me off in mid-sentence. Tinignan ko siya at di ko mabasa ang ekspresyong nasa mukha nya. “Ate Cerine or.. Mariel? Choose between the two of them. Importante kayong tatlo sa’kin. I just wanted to know kung sino ang mas matimbang sa puso mo. You can’t love the both of them at the same time.” She said and stood up. “I’m leaving, Kuya. Let’s talk some other time.. Kung nakapagisip-isip ka na.”

 

Dedicated to you :) Hahaha, salamat sa pagbabasa! *hugs!